LEST WE FORGET

Flight Sergeant James Francis MARTIN

Service No: 23503
Born: Bellingen NSW, 25 September 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 29 August 1940 (at Brisbane QLD)
Unit: Operational Training Unit (RAF), RAF Station Moreton-in-Marsh
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 21 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft X3215), near Moreton-in-Marsh, 11 February 1944, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, Oxfordshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Thomas John and Catherine Martin, of Fernmount, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Bellingen NSW
Remembered: Panel 127, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Bellingen War Memorial, Bellingen NSW

On 11 February 1944, Wellington X3215 was detailed to carry out a night non-operational Bullseye exercise. The engine cut on take off and it crashed near Black Downs near Stretton on Fosse, Gloucestershire. All on board were killed.

The crew members of X3215 were:

Sergeant John Edward Armitage (1548659) (RAFVR) (Bomb Aimer)
Sergeant Michael Joseph Breen (1797554) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Sergeant Percival Henry Earwaker (1398359) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Mervyn Hole (1896665) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant James Francis Martin (23503) (Pilot)
Sergeant Leonard Purvis (1612021) (RAFVR) (Navigator)

A Technical report into the crash stated: “The aircraft had struck a large tree at the scene of the crash, with the port wing tip tearing off approx five feet of wing. The aircraft continued on course, turning on its back and crashing into trees 100 yards further on. It disintegrated and burnt fiercely. Both engines were torn away and both propellers complete with reduction gear were broken away from the engines. The undercarriage was in the fully retracted position, and the starboard flapjack showed the flaps were up. The port flapjack showed about 10 degrees of flap, but this was considered due probably to the wing hitting the tree.

It was noted that a tree about 1000 yards away from the end of the runway in use, had been broken 20 feet from the ground and a telephone wire pulled down. On examination it was found the branches of the tree had been clearly cut by a propeller, and it was concluded that the damage had been caused by the aircraft striking the tree with the starboard propeller. The aircraft had then flown on for about three miles gaining height to approximately 200 feet to clear a hill before it crashed.

The engines were stripped down for examination but no internal faults could be found. No cause for the accident could be advanced, but two alternatives were seen as possible. Either that some slight engine trouble was present during take off, the nature of which it was impossible to diagnose, or that the flaps were raised too soon causing the aircraft to sink before sufficient height had been obtained.”.

References:

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/27/349
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line

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